Local government staff in Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to take part in a minute’s silence for the key workers who have lost their lives because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trade unionists around the world honour those killed at work every April 28 as International Workers Memorial Day. This year will take on a special significance because of the mounting death toll caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
UNISON, which represents more than a million workers across the health service, local government and other public services, joined other healthcare unions last week to call for the whole country to observe a minute’s silence on Tuesday.
More than 100 frontline health staff are thought to have died, with many more in care homes and other parts of the UK’s public services.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council agreed to mark the day after being approached by UNISON branch secretary Rob Turner.
In a message to staff, the councils will say: “Given the current worldwide situation which has led to many workers putting their health and lives on the line to keep essential services working or protect vulnerable people, we want to mark it across both Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council.
“Health unions UNISON, RCN and RCM have proposed a minute’s silence at 11am on Workers’ Memorial Day to honour workers and volunteers who have lost their lives to coronavirus – and we would invite all staff where ever they are at 11am tomorrow to take a minute to join in.
They also encourage staff to join the online Facebook event and attach a purple ribbon to their social media accounts.
UNISON Cambridgeshire County branch secretary Rob Turner said: “Every year we remember people around the world who went to work and never came home.
“It’s an occasion not just to mourn but to organise for better workplace health and safety so that more families don’t go through the pain of losing their loved ones at work. That means making sure front-line staff have the PPE they need.
“We’re glad local government workers in Cambridgeshire will have the opportunity to take part in such an important occasion. Thanks to the councils for agreeing to take part.”